Pregnancy presents a special opportunity to promote smoking cessation. Concern for the health of the fetus can be extraordinarily motivating for the pregnant woman. Results and cost-effectiveness of antismoking interventions are better for this group than for the general population, and the advantages exceed the benefits to the health of the mother alone, since they also allow for the development of a healthy fetus. Knowledge of the peculiarities of smoking during pregnancy is fundamental to developing a directed approach, which increases the probability of success. This review investigates the extent of the harmful effects that smoking has on pregnant women and fetuses alike and advocates the use of appropriate techniques to encourage pregnant women to stop smoking.
Smoking; Smoking cessation; Pregnancy